Ask Me Help Desk - How do I set up a home network (newbie)

Hi Everyone,

Please could someone help me set up a home network with two computers.

The main computer is connected to bt Yahoo broadband 1mb through the alcatel speedtouch 530 games modem and is connected to my PC using a usb connection.

My daughters PC is upstairs, both pcs have ethernet connections and the wiring is set up ready. Both pcs are running windows xp pro with sp2.

I am not sure what wires go where etc and how to get the network up and running.

I have tried to look on the net for advice of which there is plenty but can't really understand it regards wiring etc.

I would be really grateful if someone could give me simple step by step instructions to get my network up and running and my daughter on the internet.

Thank you all in advance.

Charllie

Okay, you will need

2 PC's
They both need network cards.
1 x HUB/router/switch
2 cat 5 netwrok cables (just go to the local computer store and ask for two net work cables.

Plug the power of the hub into the wall, and plug the network cables into the back of your PC's

Plug the other end of the cables into your HUB

You will ned to manually set your IP address, do this by going to >my network places> local area connection > (Rightclick) >properties > Internet protocol (tab), Select the TCP/IP option in to selection box > Properties

Check the circle that says > Use the following numbers
192.168.0.(anything between 1>200)

Note, you have to do this to both PC's, but the last number must be defferent from one another

Make the subnet mask 225.225.225.0 (If it doesn't automatically do it)

Once you've done this to both PC's somehow set the workgroups the same, For XP it does it automatically.

You can now share folders, by right clicking a folder >sharing and security> Sharing> share this folder. :confused: :rolleyes:

Is that okay for my frist post?
I do hope you all believe in Karma, because I have lots of questions! :D

Another way which you may find helpful is to use the network setup wizard. Open My Network Places (This should be on your desktop. If it isn't then open My Computer and type My Network Places into the address bar at the top) On the left you should see a panel with some options in it. One of these options is Set Up a Small Home Or Office Network. Click on it and follow the instructions on the screen. You may find this easier or you may find GreenX's instructions easier. Now you have an option :D

If you only want to link two computers, you do not need a hub, or a switch.You only need one Cat 5 cable, but it must have a "cross-over"
( or "peer to peer" ) connection. Link directly from one NIC to the other.
If one of the computers has an internet connection, it can be shared using Internet Connection Shareing.

IF you later need to expand your network to more than two computers, you WILL need to have a hub or switch. Also, to decrease the load on your internet connected computer, the modem can connect to a router, and from there to each computer, via separate NICs and Cat5 cables.
Hubs and Switchs are almost the same thing, Routers are a bit more specialised.

If you are willing to spend some money, I would recommend you buy a residential router. The "routers" that you buy are in fact routers with built in switches.

A router does something called Network Address Translation, which allows you to have a bunch of computers sitting behind the router able to access the internet (almost) as if they were connected directly to the modem. It will also give you a nice hardware firewall, and handle authentication with the modem.

But I digress.

Don't buy a hub. If you're going to spend some cash, you might as well get a switch, which essentially will get you a faster network. If you want the technical details, search Google (hub vs switch) and have fun. :)

If you want to go the cheap route, as mentioned above you can use a crossover cable and window's NAT (Internet Connection Sharing).

So basically you've got:

Computers 1 and 2 -> router -> modem -> the big scary net

So yeah

Hope some of that made sense
~psi42

To Chezsgang:

The post from psi42 is appropriate only if you need to connect more than two computers, or if you do not want the main computer to have to be ON for your daughter to use internet. If you use my proposed direct peer to peer connection, and the main computer carks it, you would not be able to use your daughter's computer to access the internet. Another advantage of using an internet router, is that most have built in hardware firewalls.
Other than that, given that you have NICs and cable in situ. the simplest, cheapest solution is as I said: Connect the two computers together, and activate ICS. Assuming the NICs and cable are servicable, you have no further outlay. The CAT5 cable has to be a cross-over, peer to peer cable. If your cable is not a cross-over type, you will need to chop one end off, and re-terminate it with crossed wiring. If you do not know how to go about that, let me know, I will explain.
You write that the "wiring is set up ready" and both computers have "ethernet connections", but you do not know where to connect them. Assuming the cables have RJ45 connectors fitted, where they go should be obvious. Again, if you need more help with this, get back to me.
When the physical connection is made, use either of the methods as described by GreenX or Darth_Tanion to configure the software.
The advantage in doing the connection directly between the two computers, apart from the cost saving, is that you will also be able to share files, drives, and printers. To the best of my knowledge, internet routers will not interconnect your computers for file, drive and printer sharing. Some routers have a built in printer server and connector that all connected computers can access, but if you want/need file and drive shareing, one shared printer does not cut it. My own cable internet connection network uses a router, and I have had to connect a parallel network, in order to get file, drive and multiple printer sharing. If I were to start over, I would use an old computer as a Linux internet server, and connect that into a hub/switch, so that all the services could be run over one network. With only two computers, direct peer to peer connection will give you all that, for almost no cost.
I hope all that has been helpful, rather than confusing. If you need further info particularly in regard to connecting/terminating the cables, get back to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KENG

To the best of my knowledge, internet routers will not interconnect your computers for file, drive and printer sharing. Some routers have a built in printer server and connector that all connected computers can access, but if you want/need file and drive shareing, one shared printer does not cut it. My own cable internet connection network uses a router, and I have had to connect a parallel network, in order to get file, drive and multiple printer sharing.

That's very odd.

The "residential level" routers I have worked with have basically been a combination switch and router. The router assigned IP addresses via DHCP and each machine could communicate with the others as if they were connected via a simple switch/hub.

I suppose you ended up with an older router or a junk one. :)

Quote:

If I were to start over, I would use an old computer as a Linux internet server, and connect that into a hub/switch, so that all the services could be run over one network.

That works _really_ well. :)

~psi42

Go to www.networkmagic.com

Download their demo and try it out, 14 days.

It's the best Networking program, I have ever seen, it will work on up to 5 CPUs, wireless or wired or both.

In a few clicks, you can share Printers, files, its an amazing progam, and if you have Aol, I believe it's free.